Have you ever sat down to a bowl of Spumoni ice cream? The colors red, green, brown and white are so pretty to behold. Chocolate and pistachio flavors with fruity cherries and walnuts blend together for a delicious taste experience in this frozen Italian dessert. Have you ever wondered how our Neapolitan flavored ice cream was born? Well, wonder no more!
SPUMONI…THE TRUTH REVEALED…
Spumone, derived from “spuma” or foam, is a molded Italian ice cream. It is made with different layers of colors and flavors, usually containing candied fruits and nuts. Spumone is usually three flavors with a fruit/nut layer in between. Frequently the ice cream layer has been mixed with whipped cream and the flavors of these layers are usually chocolate and pistachio. The fruit and nut layer typically contains cherries, creating the traditional red/pink, brown and green color combination we’re so used to seeing. This Italian Dessert originated in Naples, Italy and, consequently, emanated from it the three-flavored ice cream we know today as “Napolitano”. Spumone is popular in areas with large Italian immigrant populations, such as the United States and Argentina. Despite its association with Italian food, many dairies and retailers have placed it in the “Holiday” or “Seasonal” category along with eggnog and consequently only make it available during the Christmas and Holiday seasons. Thanksgiving. Perhaps the colors red and green contribute to this decline.
OTHER INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SPUMONI...
Sometimes the chocolate coating will actually contain shaved chocolate chunks and/or crushed hazelnuts. The hazelnuts not only add an enhanced flavor to the chocolate, but they also complement the pistachio layer which almost always has crushed pistachios. The fruit and nut layer usually contains some type of candied fruit; generally cherries are the most traditional but sometimes you can have strawberries or raspberries. Spumoni has produced its own variety of dishes; Neapolitan ice cream is a direct descendant, and perhaps the banana split (typically made with chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream and topped with whipped cream and cherries) is a distant cousin. As you consume your Spumoni, be sure to savor the flavors in each layer for the full experience.
In my next post, I will provide a recipe for Spumoni. It’s long because you actually make each of the different flavored ice creams from scratch. Fear not, it’s not a difficult recipe, just one with a lot of steps. It promises to be quite a delicious post, so come back and…bring your friends! (Bet I thought you were going to say bring your appetite! – Yeah, well, that won’t hurt either.)
